KickStarter Terran Shield: Edge of the Abyss - X-COM: Terror from the Deep spiritual successor

[ArchAngel]

This trailer is much better and I hope you do better this time.
For me personally I would rather you had graphics like Xenonauts 2 than this. Environment is very low detail for such close camera and those aliens look like they came from horror movies from fifties when they were men in rubber suits playing aliens and monsters. They are neither scary or believable (who thought having frog like enemy is a good idea ? ). Weapon effects and sounds are also very off putting for my taste.

I hope you manage to find your audience for the KS, I will check this out when it is released and finished, maybe some of things that bother me now are removed or enhanced.

 

[_Arhaeus_]

The environment and textures are not final and neither the look of the aliens. Regarding the Ka-Um-La it is not just thrown into the game, it has a lore and a background. You can read here something about its background: http://www.terran-shield.com/game/aliens.htm
It is one of the weakest aliens, so it isn't supposed to be scary. The Ud'Glee is the one who is bad and scary.
I will put an update on the Kickstarter campaign about the alien races and how we see them in the game, especially from a game mechanics perspective. Let's not forget that Terran Shield is a strategy game mainly, not a visual game with shallow gameplay and great graphics.

 

[_Arhaeus_]

Before we provide an update on the aliens, we thought we'd reveal something more about the Jellyfish Sentry.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/terranshield/terran-shield-edge-of-the-abyss-0/posts/2637020

 

[_Arhaeus_]

The update on aliens that I spoke about. Almost all aliens are much bigger than humans, not only from a lore perspective, but because in 3D the things in the far distance are very small and the player would have difficulties distinguishing and targeting them.

Attention Spoiler!


https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/terranshield/terran-shield-edge-of-the-abyss-0/posts/2639115

 

[Mazisky]

I noticed now this. I have to say the graphics looks really cheap, but the atmosphere feels really great, expecially the underwater parts.
That's fine because the first can still be improved.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Basic funding goal reached.

 

[_Arhaeus_]

Thanks to all X-Com and Jagged Alliance fans for this!
We couldn't have done this without your support. There were a lot of fans who paid for big packs on our campaign. We are grateful, proud and we have a huge responsibility in making the game that must live up to their expectations.

We work hard for an update on the inventory, that will be present also on the 0.25 demo version.

Many thanks also for the people of this forum, your thoughts and comments paid off!

 

[udm]

_Arhaeus_ completely irrelevant to the development of the game, but is your team a husband-and-wife one?

 

[_Arhaeus_]

My team is the team presented on Terran Shield website and Kickstarter page (with details about everyone) and, at the same time, is also a husband-and-wife one.

She became more involved in the project when we launched our website and helped with editing and proofreading. Then she did voice acting for the trailer and videos. And posts updates on our KS page.

 

[_Arhaeus_]

Our backers wanted us to take a stand on the exclusivity distribution matter, so we did:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/terranshield/terran-shield-edge-of-the-abyss-0/faqs

"Q: Will Terran Shield be available exclusively on Epic Store?

A: We will not make an exclusivity distribution contract with any third party (be it Epic Store, Steam, GOG etc.) in the future. Our game will be always available for sale on our site and we believe that people should be free to choose where they want to buy their games from."

 

[_Arhaeus_]

Update - The Defender Hovercraft and some Air Force combat vehicles:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/terranshield/terran-shield-edge-of-the-abyss-0/posts/2651373

 

[lightbane]

They look better than the ridiculous Phoenix Point vehicles, but it's not too hard to achieve. We still have to see how they'll work in-game.

 

[catfood]

Mi-am făcut datoria patriotică și am donat 15 verzișori

 

[_Arhaeus_]

Ud'Glee in action:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/terranshield/terran-shield-edge-of-the-abyss-0/posts/2663370

 

[_Arhaeus_]

The Poseidon Cave bas-relief is a fictional representation made to fit the game’s background and lore, but the images which inspired it are very real and ancient. They make us wonder if we really know our true past, history, origin...

 

[_Arhaeus_]

Here is the playthrough of our alpha demo on Superhuman difficulty level, with live commentary and explanations. We wanted it to be a loss-free mission, but this time the aliens got Melnikoff with their terrific sonic gun.
https://youtu.be/HRW2anFwquo

 

[anus_pounder]

Good video. Only spoiled by the sole youtube comment from some graphics whore.

 

[_Arhaeus_]

We started an Indiegogo campaign in order to achieve the stretch goals for Terran Shield.
You can support us here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/terran-shield-edge-of-the-abyss

 

[holla_cabezas_de_mierda]

looks cool, love all the details and features you seem to want to add to the game. One tiny almost meaningless comment that would in no cause me not to want the game if you did not change it (it is something in many games), but I always find it odd that throwing a grenade should take less action points than firing a gun. Pulling a pin or activating a grenade, pulling it from a ones belt and then winding up and throwing it would seem to take more effort than simply aiming and pulling a trigger of a already armed gun.

But really, I understand there could be balance issues for these choices. I have been following this game for some time, hope to purchase the full version some day.

 

[thesheeep]

looks cool, love all the details and features you seem to want to add to the game. One tiny almost meaningless comment that would in no cause me not to want the game if you did not change it (it is something in many games), but I always find it odd that throwing a grenade should take less action points than firing a gun. Pulling a pin or activating a grenade, pulling it from a ones belt and then winding up and throwing it would seem to take more effort than simply aiming and pulling a trigger of a already armed gun.

In the far future of 2XXX, you just have to say "yeet!" and a grenade will automatically fly to where you want it to. Much faster than aiming a gun!

 

[_Arhaeus_]

We will take in consideration adding more TU for throwing. During the beta we will try different sets of gameplay settings to see what will play the best.

 

[_Arhaeus_]

Our first inventory model for both Air Force and Aqua Force soldiers. With representation of the spot the soldier has on the map, the attributes, the possibility to switch on the inventory of another team member, the info for selected objects; ground, backpack, belt, right hand, left hand, right leg, left leg, right shoulder and left shoulder slots.

 

[thesheeep]

Something about the UI gives me a very strong 90s era shareware impression.
Not even sure what it is exactly.
The buttons with their gradient background?
The way everything drawn is shaded?
Those heavily-stylized-artsy backgrounds?

Not that that is negative, if it is what you are going for.
If it is accidental, I'd say either change it or embrace it.

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

Something about the UI gives me a very strong 90s era shareware impression.
Not even sure what it is exactly.
The buttons with their gradient background?
The way everything drawn is shaded?
Those heavily-stylized-artsy backgrounds?

Not that that is negative, if it is what you are going for.
If it is accidental, I'd say either change it or embrace it.

Nailed it, couldnt put my finger on what seemed strange

 

[The Brazilian Slaughter]

Agree. Not that its a bad thing - UIs nowdays seem so personality-free. Too much utility, not enough style.

That inventory screenie reminds me a lot of X-COM Apocalypse, for one.